When you go straight from the ice-cold water to a heat sauna, you is likely to be skipping a few of the chilly plunge advantages, Shah suggests. As he explains, the vast majority of advantages from chilly remedy occur not simply if you’re in the chilly water however within the time interval it takes your physique to heat up once more post-plunge.
“So when you’re going within the warmth proper afterward, it would not give your physique that prolonged 20 to half-hour of warming itself up,” he notes.
See, when your physique naturally goes from chilly to heat (also referred to as thermogenesis), your adrenal glands will launch catecholamines (like epinephrine and norepinephrine), resulting in elevated metabolic price and warmth manufacturing1. When you velocity up the method with a sauna, your physique may not launch these wholesome compounds.
So slightly than leaping out of your chilly plunge and heading straight for the sauna, flip that routine round. If you wish to trip, that is nice; simply remember to all the time finish your session with chilly.
This recommendation rings true not just for chilly plunge tubs but in addition chilly showers. See, you do not wish to begin with a blast of chilly water after which crank the tap to heat shortly after. As a substitute, finish your bathe with chilly water and let your physique naturally heat up as you dry off.